When it comes to your company’s technology infrastructure, something must give. Either you take the reins and become its IT department (and learn how difficult that can be) or you outsource those responsibilities to a managed services provider in Connecticut.

 With so many cloud computing and managed service providers available, selecting a partner for your company's IT needs can be difficult.

To learn more about your options, you need to do research, analyze the situation carefully and make a decision that helps your company succeed.

This blog post will help you recognize if a managed IT services partner is right for your company before signing any contracts.

Know the Differences Between Offshore and On-Premises Managed Services

Increasingly, managed service providers (MSPs) are offering hybrid IT solutions that combine traditional MSP services with those of an outsourcer.

There can be a lot of confusion about the differences between on-premises and offshore managed services.

On-Premises Managed Services:

For businesses with light to moderate IT needs, an on-premises managed service provider offers significant cost savings over a full-service solution.

Managed services providers with in-house, on-site teams tend to be more flexible and able to offer a wider range of solutions than offshore providers.

Offshore Managed Services:

Offshore managed services offer the convenience of having an IT provider manage your infrastructure and applications remotely.

With offshore managed services, your employees will be able to do their jobs remotely. However, this solution is well-suited for larger companies that need additional IT resources but don’t have the budget. Although working in a relaxed and informal environment can be refreshing for some, other employees may take longer to adjust.

Don’t Assume All MSPs Are Created Equal

It has become increasingly easy to find a managed services provider that will meet your needs. Finding the right MSP can be a challenge if you don't know what to look for, but it's important that each one is well suited for your company. No two MSPs will be exactly alike, but there are some key factors to keep in mind when choosing an MSP.

MSP Size: To find the right managed security provider, consider whether or not they are a good match for your company’s size and budget. 

Technology Expertise: A good managed services provider should have expertise in your industry, as well as the technologies you use. This will ensure that it is able to meet your technology needs and prevent any interruptions in business operations.

Contractual Terms: Before signing any managed services contracts with an MSP, be sure to read and understand the terms of each contract. You should check the customer satisfaction ratings of potential MSPs to make sure they have high scores.

Determine Your Company’s Technology Needs

It’s important to first determine your company’s technology needs, then find an MSP that meets those needs and fits into the budget.

A technology roadmap is an assessment of your company’s current infrastructure and a projection of its future needs.

A managed services roadmap will help you avoid costly mistakes in the future—and ensure that your company's needs are being met right now.

 To create your technology roadmap, begin by assessing your current business needs.

- What types of technologies do your employees use?

- What technology does your company currently use? 

- What technology does your company not use but should? 

- What technology is aging out or will soon be unsupported?

Find Out Where Your MSP is Located

When searching for a managed services provider, it is vital to investigate not only the location of their data center but also how secure and compliant their servers will be.

By learning about the physical location of your MSP, you can assess whether its facilities meet your company’s data-storage requirements.

To find out where your MSP’s data center is located, have the IT team ask your MSP and then perform a risk assessment. It is important to carefully evaluate all aspects of a data center before signing a contract.

Ask These 8 Questions Before Hiring an MSP

Once you’ve found potential MSPs and determined which managed services solution is best for your company, you should then ask a few key questions before choosing an MSP. This will help ensure that the MSP is a good fit for your company and will help you avoid costly mistakes.

 These questions should include:

- What technology are you currently using?

- How are you meeting your SLAs?

- What is your disaster recovery plan?

- What are your capabilities for security and compliance? 

- What services do you provide? 

- What is your pricing?

- What is your SLA? 

- Is there anything you would like me to do or provide feedback on? 

These questions will help you determine whether an MSP is a good fit for your company, and if so, which one it should be.